Dispenser



R. L. WRIGHT Sept. 8, 1970 DISPENSER 4 SheetsShee"t 1 Filed June 2, 1966Fig. 2

INVENTOR ROBERT L. WRIGHT ATTORNEY R. L. WRIGHT Sept. 8, 19m

DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1966 DISPENSER Filed June 2,1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 8, 1970 R. L. WRIGHT 3,527,431

DISPENSER Filed June 2, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent M3,527,431 DISPENSER Robert L. Wright, 127 Palomares Ave., Ventura,Calif. 93003 Filed June 2, 1966, Ser. No. 554,903 Int. Cl. B64d 1/16 US.Cl. 244136 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shallow elongated traycontaining bundles of radar reflecting chaff is supported above the tailhook of a carrier based aircraft. Release of the hook opens the tray anddeploys the chaff. The tray may be bolted to the tail hook, or may beexpendable.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to dispensing means and more particularly to achaff dispensing device for deploying chaff dipoles in relatively largenumbers from small aircraft such as carrier-based planes.

Chaff, in the sense used in this application, is a type of confusionreflector consisting primarily of narrow metallic strips of variouslengths which, when dropped from aircraft, create false signals on radarscopes. Its primary use is in electronic countermeasures and its effect,when dropped from aircraft, is either to confuse an enemy as to thelocation of aircraft or to deceive the enemy in relation to the numberof opposing aircraft. Chaff also may serve as a radar screen to protectattacking aircraft from radar-directed anti-aircraft fire. A very densecloud of chaff may be formed by dropping bundles containing the chafffrom several aircraft, the cloud being placed between target areas andknown or suspected gun emplacements thereby protecting aircraft duringbombing runs. Current chaff dispensing techniques require a pod type ofbundle dispenser which necessitates removal of a weapon or an externalfuel container. Such removal reduces the range or striking power of theaircraft.

There is thus an established need for radar confusion reflector materialdispensing means which will permit such material to be carried insufficient quantities on light attack aircraft to provide protectionagainst radar-directed gun and missile fire. The dispenser for suchmaterial must be compact so as to not seriously affect the aerodynamiccharacteristics of the aircraft yet also must be sufliciently large tocarry an appreciable quantity of bundles of chaff. Further, the meansmust be easily carried and the bundles easily deployed preferablythrough the operation of existing appendages on aircraft.

Conventional chaff dispenser pods are bulky and heavy, among otherdisadvantages, and thus are not capable of filling the need for adispenser for smaller aircraft. These dispensers require the addition ofa significantly large pod to an aircraft which affect its speed andhandling characteristics. A new chaff container therefore is requiredfor installation on smaller aircraft. Such a container is provided bythis invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to Patented Sept.8, 1970 provide a chaff dispenser for small attack aircraft which willnot interfere with the carrying; of weapons or external fuel tanks onsuch aircraft.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a chaffdispenser for small aircraft which is compact and simple in operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chaffdispenser which may be easily and inexpensively installed on the smalleraircraft with a minimum of or no modification of the craft.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a chaff dispenserwhich is especially adapted for use on aircraft having appendages suchas the arresting hook of carrier-based aircraft to which the chaffdispenser may be attached.

A still further object of this invention is to provide apparatus fordeploying material to be dispensed from a vehicle where such vehicle hasat least one appendage of adequate size and strength to which-theapparatus may be attached and which is positionable during operation ofthe vehicle.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when consideration inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which like numeralsdesignate like parts throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a prespective view of one embodiment of the chaff dispensermounted on a carrier-based aircraft;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the portion of the aircraft fuselage atwhich a dispenser is positioned;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1and its relation to the aircraft appendage;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of another embodiment and itsrelation to the aircraft appendage;

FIG. 5a is a sectional view of one form of container for the chaffdispenser bundles wherein the bundles may be laid transverse to thecontainer;

FIG. 5b is a sectional view of a. second form of container wherein thebundles may be laid longitudinally in the container;

FIG. 5c is a sectional view of an alternate container for chaffdispenser bundles;

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of an expendable embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6b is an inverted view of the embodiment of FIG. 6a;

FIG. 7a is a sectional view of one expendable embodiment;

FIG. 7b is a sectional view of a second expendable embodiment.

FIG. is a sectional view of a third expendable embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of non-expendable container mounted on theshank of the arresting book of a carrier-based aircraft;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an expendable container loaded withchaff dispenser bundles; and

FIG. 10 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 showing the dispenserbundles covered by protective material.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a carrier-basedaircraft 11 which is relatively small in size and has among otherappendages a tail or arresting hook 12 normally used to stop the forwardmomentum of the aircraft when it lands on the deck of a carrier. Thearresting hook may be lowered into the ready position for engaging acable or other retaining device at any time during flight and thusprovides a very desirable member for attachment of a chaff dispenser.Such a dispenser is shown at 13 and in this embodiment is positionedbetween the shank of the arresting hook and the underbody of theaircraft. Although the aircraft shown is a Douglas A4 Skyhawk, theinvention is not limited to such craft and may be applied to virtuallyany aircraft having positionable appendages against which the chaffbundle dispenser may be secured or releasably held.

The aircraft shown herein is equipped with external stores stationswhich could accommodate the normal pod type chaff bundle dispenser,however, since this aircraft carries both weapons and auxiliary fueltanks externally an additional external structure would be required inorder to employ the conventional pod type of chaff bundle dispenser.Such a structure could seriously affect the aircraft aerodynamiccharacteristics. Other appendages on an aircraft also may receive thechaff bundle dispenser of the present invention, but on carrier-basedaircraft the arresting hook shank provides so extremely desirable adeploying means that use of this appendage only is illustrated anddiscussed herein.

In the enlarged view of FIG. 2, the arresting hook 12, its shank 14 andchaff bundle dispenser 13 are shown partly in longitudinal section. Thedispenser essentially is a shallow tray, see FIGS. 3 and 4, whose sidesvary in height so as to conform substantially to the configuration f theunderbody of the aircraft fuselage which is indicated at 15. For use onthe type aircraft shown, the sides of the tray are substantially higherin the vicinity of hook 12 than at either the opposite end in thevicinity of housing 16 wherein pivot means, not shown, and means forlowering the hook, also not shown, are contained. A resilient pad suchas is indicated at 17 may be provided to protect the chaff in thedispenser and more effectively seal the interior of dispenser tray 13from the airstream during flight. A dispenser may be made substantiallythe length of shaft 14 so that a maximum number of chaff bundles may bestowed in dispenser tray 13. Securing means such as clamp assemblies 18may be used to secure some of the embodiments of the tray to shank 14although it will be appreciated that another form of tray may be held inplace against the aircrafts underbody by shank 14 alone as will bediscussed later.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show two embodiments of the dispenser tray in detail andin these figures each embodiment of the dispenser is essentially in theform of a shallow tray having curved corners at the forward end toreduce air resistance. Conventional chaff bundles or chaff dipoles suchas those contained in conventional chaff bundles are stowed in thetrays, the embodiment of FIG. 3 receiving these bundles flat andtransversely disposed with respect to shank 14 while the embodiment ofFIG. b receives the bundles flat but longitudinally disposed in relationto shank 14. In addition, loose dipoles may be packed in the tray tooccupy all available space not taken by wrapped bundles of chaff. Tray19 of FIG. 4 would necessarily carry a lesser number of bundles thanwould tray 13 of FIG. 3. Tray 13 is contoured to fit over shank 14 whiletray 19. may be secured to the shank by clamp assemblies 18, as shown ingreater detail in FIGS. 5a, 5b and 50. In order to conform to thefuselage of the aircraft, the sides of the trays generally are shorterin the intermediate portions than at the ends. At their forward ends thetrays preferably have an upstanding end 20 and the end and sides meet incurved portions 21. The aft end 22 may be upstanding or angled as shownin FIG. 6b to allow the chaff bundles to slide out more freely when thearresting hook is lowered. If desired, the single tray shown may bereplaced by two or more trays, not shown, positioned end to end alongthe shank of the arresting hook. Such division of stowage space may bepreferred where shorter tray sections may be transported, loaded orinstalled more easily. Shorter sections also may be preferred ininstances where controlled release may provide a more rapid or moreextensive dispersal of chaff.

The tray embodiments discussed herein may be either reusable orexpendable within the concept of the invention. Reusable trayspreferably would be made of metal to withstand the air loads encounteredwhen arresting hook 12 is lowered, and such metal trays may be lightenedby perforations in the bottom surface thereof, not shown. FIGS. 5a, 5band 5c illustrate three embodiments of reusable trays, that of FIG. 5acorresponding to tray 13 in FIG. 2 while those of FIGS. 5b and 5c aredimensioned to receive fewer bundles of chaff which bundles may differin size from those accommodated in tray 13. Each of the trays may havesecured to it a bracket 25 which is cut away to receive a portion ofshank 1 4. The brackets 25 accommodate yokes 26 which receive acomplementary portion of shank 14 and on installation are secured tobrackets 25 by suitable means such as bolts or aircraft screws 27. Aliner or gasket 29 may be disposed around the upper periphery of thesides and ends of the trays in lieu of or in addition to resilient pad17 to provide a seal against the underbody of the aircraft sufficient toprotect the contents of the trays from the airstream. Such gaskets maybe made of synthetic rubber or other suitable material.

FIGS. 3, 6a and 6b illustrate embodiments of expandable trays, FIG. 6ashowing the upper side and interior of one embodiment while FIG. 6bpresents a view of the bottom of this tray. Plastic or otherlightweight, inexpensive yet solid, strong material may be used to makethe expendable trays. In expendable tray 30 of FIGS. 6a and 6b theforward end 32 is considerably shorter in height than the after end 31for reasons already discussed. The tray has a longitudinally extendingridge 33 which is made to conform to the outer surface of shank 14 andis reinforced at end 32 by plate 34 which engages the forward end ofstop 35 at the aft end of shank 14, see FIGS. 9 and 10. Tray 30 is shownin cross section in FIG. 7a where it may be seen that chaff bundles 36may be disposed transversely therein while additional bundles 37 may bedisposed longitudinally along either side of ridge 33. FIGS. 7b and 70show alternate configurations of expendable trays which ordinarily carrybundles 38 and 39 longitudinally disposed therealong. As in theexpendable embodiments, liner 29 may be used to enclose the interior ofthe trays when positioned against the aircraft fuselage. These linersmay be either supplemented by or replaced by resilient pad material, seeFIG. 10. In the wider expendable trays each side may be stiffened bysuitable means such as crease '40. In the non-expendable trays, FIGS.5a, 5b and 5c, longitudinally extending strips 45 provide support forthe bundles when stowed while transversely extending brackets 25strengthen the chaff dispenser tray.

Operation of the chaff dispenser is better understood by referring toFIGS. 8-10. A non-expendable bundle dispenser is shown in FIG. 8 filledwith chaff bundles and assembled on the shank of the arresting hook. Allembodiments preferably are open at the top so as to provide both anadvantage in weight and ease in operation. The trays may be furtherlightened by having holes, not shown, cut in the bottom surfacesthereof, such holes also admitting air from the airstream on lowering ofthe hook to more rapidly disperse the bundles. In FIG. 9 an expendabletray is shown loaded with loose chaff dipoles covered by strips 48 ofsuitable material to protect the loose chaff from wind and otherenvironmental factors. FIG. 10 shows the tray of FIG. 9 covered byresilient material 17 in pad form, this material and strips 48 servingto hold the chaff in place during flight and to provide a seal againstthe underbody of the aircraft to exclude the entry of air from theairstream.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6a and 6b substantially 130 bundles of RR6size chaff may be carried. The dipoles in these 130 bundles preferablyare removed from their outer pasteboard wrappings and stowed in the trayas dipole sections. Such stowage permits more chaff to be carried andprovides for more rapid dispensing of the chaff. Various sizes and typesof chaff may be loaded in a similar manner, the total quantity carriedbeing, of course, inversely proportional to the size of the chaff.

Where the tactical situation requires that chaff be dispersed, thearresting hook is cycled down into the slip stream whereupon the air ofthe slip stream aided by the force of gravity immediately empties thetray of its contents. Expendable trays are dispersed along with thechaff at the first cycling down of the arresting hook. Where loosedipoles are packed in the tray, either occupying the entire usable spacetherein or filling space not occupied by wrapped bundles of dipoles, amore rapid break-lock of a tracking radar occurs since the unwrappeddipoles open more quickly than do the dipoles in conventional pasteboardbundle wrappings.

Although the trays may be loaded with chaff just prior to takeoff, theinvention provides for time saving in that the trays also may be loadedat the point of manufacture or at the point of distribution to the fleetthereby providing a pre-packaged tray for immediate use. In either theexpendable or non-expendable embodiments, the tray is not a hazard orhandicap to the aircraft during landing operations since, of course, theexpendable tray is no longer present and the non-expendable tray issecurely bolted to the shank of the hook along the upper side thereofout of way of the hook.

The trays are simply constructed and thus represent a minimum weight fortheir capacity. Any of the embodiments shown may be easily and cheaplyconstructed. Their cost is only a small fraction of the cost of existingpod type dispensers. The non-expendable type may be installed withordinary hand tools and, of course, the expendable type needs no toolsof any sort for its installation since it conforms to and is held inposition by the arresting hook shank.

The type of embodiment, that is wide, intermediate or narrow, useddepends upon the tactical situation to be expected. Where areasaturation is desired, a number of aircraft equipped with the wideembodiments, that is those capable of carrying 130 bundles, may bedesired. The chaff in each bundle may be cut for most effectiveness todifferent frequencies bands of the electromagnetic wave spectrum. Wherebreaking a radar track is necessary for a single attack pass only, thenarrow embodiment having a capacity of 7 bundles may be preferred.Various planes in an attack force may be equipped with bundles ofvarying capacity to accommodate a wide variety of conditions. Thedispensers also may be loaded with chaff cut for several frequency bandsso as to disrupt several types of radar simultaneously. Most success isexpected against radars of the search and tracking type havingcountercountermeasure capabilities of low sophistication. The dispensersshould be of greatest value in actions where nonsophisticated radar isused by the enemy to direct fire. Patterns of various lengths of chaffor various frequency bands could be developed to disrupt and confuse themore sophisticated radars.

Each of the described embodiments carries sufficient confusion reflectormaterial to present a false surface target large enough to appear to bethe return from an aircraft carrier or cruiser. Alternatively, thepresent dispenser trays could be used to dispense propaganda leaflets oranti-personnel darts.

It will be recognized that many modifications and variations of thepresent invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. Itis therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appendedclaims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallydescribed.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing material from an airborne vehicle having anappendage movable during flight from a position adjacent the vehiclesurface to a position remote therefrom comprising:

an appendage mounted adjacent the surface of said vehicle;

means for moving said appendage from a position adjacent the side of thevehicle to a position at least partially remote therefrom;

a substantially flat elongate container having a principal opening forthe ingress and. egress of material to be dispensed during flight, saidcontainer being so configured that it is closed by the adjacent surfaceof said vehicle side;

said container also being configured to cooperate with the shape of theappendage so that the appendage will hold the container adjacent thesurface of the vehicle with the opening closed by said surface; and

means for actuating said appendage during flight from a positionadjacent the wall of the vehicle to a position remote therefrom so thatthe container access opening is uncovered and the container contents aredistributed.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is a carrier-basedaircraft and said appendage is the arresting hook of said aircraft.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said container is provided withlongitudinally extending recess means for accommodating substantiallythe entire length of the shank of said arresting hook, said tray beingexpended when a radar reflecting chaff material therein is dispensed.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said container is secured to the shankof said arresting hook, a radar refleeting chaff being dispensed fromsaid tray upon cycling down of said arresting book.

5. The device of claim 1 and further including releasable means coveringa chaff material disposed within said container so as to protect saidchaff material from wind and other environmental disturbances.

6. The combination with (1) an aircraft including a fuselage having anunder surface and an arresting hook designed to facilitate the landingof said aircraft upon a runway of limited extent, said arresting hookhaving an elongated shank means for externally pivotally mounting saidhook on the under surface of the fuselage of said aircraft, and meansfor selectively angularly extending said hook to and retractable from alowered position under the control of the aircraft pilot,

(2) a chaff dispenser in the form of a shallow tray the underside ofwhich is formed with a recessed portion into which the elongated shankof said arresting hook is at least partially receivable, and an openupper side of said tray which is contoured to conform to theconfiguration of that portion of the fuselage of said aircraft adjacentto said arresting hook, and

(3) a load of chaff freely carried in said tray,

said tray, and the chaff load freely carried therein, being placed onthe shank of said arresting hook prior to aircraft flight while saidhook is in its extended position so that the shank of said hook is atleast partially received within the recessed portion of said tray, saidbook then being pivotally actuated to its retracted position to bringsaid tray into engagement with the outer surface of said aircraftfuselage and thereby completely enclose the chaff load within said tray,

a subsequent pivotal actuation of said hook to its extended loweredposition during aircraft flight permitting the chaff load freely carriedin said tray to be dispensed therefrom.

7. The device of claim 6 and further including resilient means disposedalong the edge of said upper side so as to isolate the interior of thetray during flight from the airstream pf said aircraft.

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STATES PATENTS Waldmp 44 10 by K1288, Philip 1., pp. 50, 51, NOV. 18,1957. 222 ROBERT F. STAHL, Primary Examiner Gantschnigg 89-1.5

Panquette. 10 US. Cl. X.R.

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